Teen who flipped off a judge gets a second chance

An 18-year-old girl who saw her punishment escalated from a $5,000 fine to a $10,000 fine and 30 days in jail for contempt of court after she flipped off the judge got a second chance in court today.

Penelope Soto appeared in front of Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat earlier this week on drug possession charges. Video of her sentencing became an internet sensation after she giggled through the procedure and then flipped him off.

A different Soto appeared in court this time. She cried, apologized and acted contrite. The judge agreed to vacate the 30-day contempt sentence. Soto’s drug charges will be dropped if she follows through with rehab.

Rodriguez-Chomat took time to explain to Soto that had his punishment not been vacated she would have been a convicted felon her entire life.

What do you think of the judge’s change of heart? See her other court appearance here: